Intergenerational transmission of schema: Schema disposition in early childhood

This study aims to investigate the intergenerational transmission of schemas across three generations and the predisposition to schema in children. In this study, data were collected from children aged 6 to 8, their parents, and their maternal grandmothers. Considering the developmental characteristics of children in early childhood, a vignette was created for each schema, along with short video clips representing those vignettes. The thesis consists of two parts. In the first phase, the reliability and validity studies of the Video-Based Schema Disposition Assessment Tool for Children (VB-SDATC), developed within the scope of the research, were conducted. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale was found to be .83. In this phase, 156 children aged 6–8 responded to the VB-SDATC, and for convergent validity, a group of 45 children aged 8–14 completed the Düsseldorf Illustrated Schema Questionnaire for Children. When comparing total scores, the correlation between the two instruments was found to be r = .50. The second phase of the study examined schema transmission. In this phase, a total of 624 individuals participated: 156 children (from the first phase), their 156 mothers, 156 fathers, and 156 maternal grandmothers. Children responded to the VB-SDATC, while mothers, fathers, and grandmothers completed the Young Schema Questionnaire. Additionally, mothers completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) to assess their own emotional state and filled out the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to evaluate possible psychopathology in their children. Findings were examined on two levels: (1) the intergenerational transmission of schemas and (2) the transmission of behavior problems in children as predicted by schemas. When controlling for mothers' levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, it was found that schemas were transmitted from grandmothers to mothers in all domains except for autonomy; however, no such transmission was observed in children. In the analysis investigating the transmission of behavioral problems in children as predicted by schemas, it was found that, when maternal depression, anxiety, and stress levels were controlled, mothers' schemas predicted children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in the domains of attachment and self-worth, with the exception of autonomy and impaired limits. In the domain of spontaneity, maternal schemas predicted only internalizing problems. The findings were discussed in light of the existing literature.